Unbiased Reviews and Undercover Price Research on Local Services

Grieving for a loved one is acutely difficult just after the loss. It is not a time when you want to sit across the desk from a salesperson in a high-pressure, time-sensitive situation and make a series of important and expensive choices. You’re vulnerable to making hasty, costly decisions that might not make sense if you had the perspective you’d get by having a little more time.

Funeral homes provide important services, but they are businesses—which means they are typically run for profit and with a goal of maximizing each sale. They make money by selling products and services, some of which you and your family may not want, need, or be able to afford.

You might want to read this when there is no immediate need, to get a frame of reference should the need suddenly arise.

In addition, think about making advance decisions for yourself and your loved ones based both on your expressed preferences and the emotional needs of your survivors. It’s difficult for many people to do, but pre-planning your own funeral is sensible and thoughtful. Your input for the final decisions of your life will be a source of comfort to your survivors.

After a loved one dies, in addition to planning the funeral itself, a number of associated details require attention. Friends, coworkers, and fellow congregants can play a major role in relieving the bereaved family of many of these tasks.

Our ratings of area funeral homes will help you find a firm you can trust. We advise that you never go by yourself to a funeral home to choose services. Take along a less-involved companion to assure you that sensible decisions are made.

There are several options for disposing of a deceased person’s remains: Burial, cremation, and donation to a medical school. Cremation is an increasingly popular choice, and is far less expensive than a traditional funeral.

When planning a funeral, many decisions must be made. Ceremonies can range from a simple, direct disposition to a lavish funeral. You’ll need to determine what would be a meaningful commemoration of the deceased. We review the various options.

There is tremendous price variation among funeral homes for identical caskets. Many homes mark up caskets three to five times wholesale; some have even higher markups. Many consumers are increasingly buying caskets elsewhere.

After your death, part or all of your body can be donated to improve the quality of life of others—or offer the gift of life itself. Donation of at least some body parts is an option for almost anyone, regardless of age or medical history.